Biking to Hood River

Since the weather has been so good, we decided to take a longer bike daytrip to Hood River yesterday---about 55 miles (90 km). It was fun, but the weather turned out to be less warm than we though and we underdressed somewhat---coming down from Multnomah falls there were droves of snow to the side of the road. However, the trip gave us a taste for more long distance biking this spring. Here snacks of nuts and tea are had outside the Vista House at Crown Point.

The red shoe got to come too---here featured in Cascade locks. On the other side of the river is Stevenson, where hottubbing is plentiful and good.

Sub zero weather costuming for biking 101

It is still below freezing in the mornings here, and as I bike about 50 kms (30 miles) a day, bundling up is a requirement. Here is minimum setup for me up until last week: Long johns, thermal shirt, arm warmers, leg warmers, water proof socks, pants, wind proof biking jacket, and goretex gloves. And to top it off a balaclava. This week the weather is significantly warmer, so I am enjoying biking gloveless coming home, and not wearing long johns under my shorts.

Musical interlude

The following song is very special to me for many reasons---one of them being that it is a very profound take on the life of a sports athlete. If you are a fluent swedish speaker, I am sure you will appreciate it just as much as I do. In fact, I am confident of it.

The stairs!!!!

Last night we went to the Kennedy school/ for a $3 movie showing in comfy chairs. Afterwards A had the brainspike to go to the stairs---a summer favorite spot at night. The weather was just warm enough to let us sit and look at the view for half an hour without freezing to death. Not too shabby for february.

View from a stair.

Swedish cream

So during our SF visit, one of the things that came up was swedish cream. A year ago, I visited Arnicas parents for a genuine american thanksgiving. A's cousing Duff was also in attendance, and he cooked up a highly nonvegan concoction he referred to as "swedish cream"---raw eggs, cream, milk and more. The day after, Arnica found that it did not agree with bicycling to the degree that he puked it all up while stressing to the SF ferry. Ever since, A has been of the firm belief that swedish cream is the devils work.

The warning that started it all.

California adventures!

This weekend we finally got out of town for a spell. And we did it in style by going to San Francisco. We had not planned it very well, but it ended up being totally awesome. Interestingly, a large number of our friends, and people we knew from around ended up being in SF at the same time. Jacob was back from a winter of bike touring and farming in Europe, Arnica was travelling through as a waystop on the way to Bermuda where he was going to ship out, Grant had a birthday, and Simone was back again too.

We were lucky in a number of other ways too: Not only did we manage to get some sun---we also got late reservations on friday night to Millennium (probably the best vegan restaurant on the west coast) and had an extraordinary late dinner.
Saturday, we walked around and enjoyed the spring-like weather, and then met up with A+J at the Bike Kitchen. From there we headed to Grants' for tamales and birthday cake. Sunday we had punk rock breakfast in the Haight, and walked around in Golden Gate Park.

Good times.

Herman the Sturgeon

A little while back we hung out in Hood River for the day, and as always when travelling up that direction, we visited our friend Herman the Sturgeon. Herman lives in the Bonneville fish hatchery, and is totally rad. He is also quite big. The Columbia still has wild sturgeon, but probably not that many as big as Herman.